Hi thanks Melanie I can also sympathise with you suing metallic three I've used it to highlight marbling in a fairy cross stitch hard work to use but so worth the effort.

Michelle,
Your cross stitch far surpasses anything I ever did...love it all!  <3  I can definitely relate to the cross stitching on black Aida...sigh, I made an even more colossal mistake and started stitching something on black linen...sigh, yes, I'm a glutton for punishment...imagine trying to see all of those little tiny holes in the fabric!    Sorry to say the project never saw the light of day (very unfinished) and I don't know if I even have the pattern anymore.  It was a beautiful one, though, a dragon cross stitch, made with metallic specialty threads.  A lot of work. 
I can see why you've won prizes...with such beautiful work, I can't imagine you wouldn't!  <3
Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=

Thank you so much, I must get back to my other projects now or I'll never finish them.

Michelle,
I can see why both of these won prizes...they're outstanding!  <3
Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=

The Arab took 8 months to complete. And has won at all its shoes so far even winning trophy for best exhibit in sewing catagory. The Barn Owl took 12 weeks to complete and has been to one show where it won best cross stitch item.